Armament



E. A. GROSS Sept. 20, 1927.

ARMAMENT Filed April l. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l E. A. GROSS ARMAMENT Filed April l. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BEI D PATIENT OFFICE.

amer A. onoss, or LmoILLE, MINNESOTA. manana'.

Application filed April l, 1926. Seriall No. 99,151.

vThis invention relates to improvements in armament constructions.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a bullet-proof collapsible cab- 5. inet construction which-may be used in con- Y nection with vehicles, such as trucks, being of a nature for detachable connection thereon wherein an armed guard may be safely positioned for the guarding of money, or other valuables which are being transported from lace to lace.

rther o ject of this invention is the provision of armament for vehicles used in the transportinor of valuables, referably '15 embodying a bullet-proof steel ca inet construction such as set forth in my Patent #1,453,792, patented May l1, 1923, and embodying the specific improvements thereover in rendering the bullet-proof cabinet susceptible of compact attachment upon a truck.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved collapsible bulletproof steel cabinet construction ada ted lfor .I use upon motor vehicles, and' em; odying portable meansfto placethe same in detachable relation on the vehicle in such relation that'the same may receive an armed guard with valuables in a protected and secured relation.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved bullet-proof cab inet construction having improved guarded ports and a door which is controlled from sr the' inside for facilitating passage of valuables to and from the cabmet.

Other objects and advantages of this imvention will be ap arent during the course o-f the following detailed description.

In the drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similarreference c aracters designate correspondingl parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a side" elevation of a motor truck having the improved armament cabinet installed thereon in an extended relation, and showing in dotted lines" the collapsed portable position of the armament on the platform of a truck.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view I .taken through the bullet-proof armament cabinet in extended relation upon the truck. Figure 3 is a cross sectional view showing the collapsed position of parts of the armament on the truck. Figures 4 and 5 are cross sectional views taken substantially on their respective lines in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the collapsed bullet-proof steel cabinet, showing features of construction thereof.

Figure 7 is an elevation of the entrance end of the cabinet.

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view take? substantially on the line 8.-8 of Figure Figure 9 is a view from the inside of the cabinet at the port o ening thereof, taken substantially in the directlon indicated in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view, illustrating the portable Wheels and the means to hold Athe colla sible .portions of the cabinet in a collapse relatlon.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only a preferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A may generally designate the improved bulletproof cabinet, which is of a nature for detachable connection upon a motor truckl B.

The motor truck B 1s of course of any approved formation, and the same may comprise a drivers compartment or cab construction 10, which hasa rear wall 1l with an opening 12 therethrough which may be covered by a transparent pane, if desired. The truck B is provided with a fiooi' or platform 14, and a principal featureof the invention is the compact attachment of the armament cabinet A against the rear wall 11 of the cab 10, atthe forward portion of the platform 14 only, so that the rear ortion of the platform, as illustrated in Figure 1 is uno structed for loadingl of articles or material thereon.

The cabinet A in the main follows the construction of my patent above referred to and comprises a r1g1d box-like section C and a collapsible section D cooperatively related with the rigid section C. i

The rigid section C of the cabinet is formed of steel plate material, of afbulletproof nature, and comprises the wall 20, bottom wall 21; top wall 22; and side walls .23 and 24. The walls 20 to 24 inclusive are integrally formed, and arranged in rectangular formation, the rigid section C being open at the rear thereofand over which the collapsible section D is adapted to cooperate in providing the bullet-proof cabinet, as can readily be understood.

los'

The frontwall 20 of the rigid section C is preferably provided with a sight o 26 therein, which when the lcabinet ,is 1n position will alignwith the window opening 12 in the rear Wall of the cab construction, as is illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, and thus permit the guard in the i interior of compartment 30 ofthe cabinet A tohave a lineof sight forwardly of the vehicle in the direction in which the same is being propelled.

The sight opening'26, of course, is to be arded,.and to this end a steel closure 31 1s provided, as is illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings, pivoted at 32 on the front wall 20, preferably at one of the upper corners of the sight opening 26; the door 31 i Lto facilitate lifting thereof.

The collapsible section D comprises top andfbottom walls and 41 respectively,

A which are hingedly connected at 42 and 43 44 into res ectively to the top and bottom walls 22 an 21 of the rigid section C, to swing into the pocket of the rigid section C, as illustrated in Figure 3 whenthe top and bottom walls of the collapsible section are collapsed, as illustrated in Figure 3. The section which are respectively hinged to the side walls- 23 and 24- of the rigid section, by hinges `46 which swing inwardly to permit theside wall to be swung inwardly first, towards the open rear of the rigid compartment C, and then the` side wall 44 to be swung thereover.

V'I-he collapsible section D furthermore includes a rearv wall or closure 50 hingedly connected at 51 to the rearmost edge of the colla sible side wall 44, in such relation that the oor or closure 50may be swung outwardly into a parallel plane with the wall in Figure 3. v

The walls 41,42, 43, 44 and 50 have interfitting parts to overlap at the abutting margins thereof, to provide a lclosed cabinet withecient connections when the same is extended, as is'illustrated in several of the drawings, andas is setV forth in my patentabove referred to.

An important feature in connection with the construction of the collapsible cabinet section D is the provision of an article inserting and removing opening l in the lowerportion of the door or closure 50,

ening D also includes side walls 44 and 45v a collapsed relation as illustrated' through which money, currency, or other valuables may be passed to the guard within the compartment 30, or from the guard exteriorly of the cabinet, without the neces-` sity of opening the cabinet and thus impairing the efiiciency of its use, in that bandits could then reach the guard and the valuables as Well. At the inside surface of the closure 50 it ispreferred to place a vertical sliding door 62 having the edges thereof slidably received in side grooves provided by flanged brackets 63 attached to the inside surface lof the door 50; the lower portion of the closure 62 being received in a flanged bracket 64 attached to the door 50, to limit the downward and closed position vof the door 62 as is illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. In the door 50 is also placed a port opening 65 smaller than the opening 60, about the middle of theheight of the door 50, which is shut by a slidable closure 66 operable at the inside of the door 50, and

retained by means of flanged `brackets similar to the door 62 above described. Also, at

the top of the door 50 it is preferred to provide a sight hole 67, with an enlarged bevel edge at the rear ,off the door 50, through which the guard may observe happenines exteriorly of the cabinet. Normally t e opening 67 is closed by a door 68 inside of the door 50 and controlled therefrom. A pair of the port openings 65 may be provided, -as well -as a. pair ofthe sight openings 67 in the'rear wall or door 50, in the 10 relation illustrated in Figure 7.

As is illustrated in Figure 4 of the' drawings it is preferred to provide sight openings in the rigid section C, similar to the sight openings 67 above described, over which slidable closures 70 are operable from the inside of the compartment 30. Simi# los larl at each side of the closure 31 it is pre erred to provide port openings. in the wall 20, normally closed by means of ver# tical slides 72 operable from the inside of the compartment 30. These port openings and sight openings which are controlled by the closures 70 and 72 are normally not used except when the armament cabinet is oil' the truck, and used for guarding a pay- 115 (master, or in like instance.

The side walls of both the rigid and collapsible sections D and Dz may also be provided With upper bevel sight openings controlled by insi e closures 75, and lower port openings may also be provided controlled by inside closures 76, as is illustrated in the drawings.

hAn important feature of the invention is t e tending inwardly from `each of the sidewalls 23 and 24 of the rigid section C, to engage the free swinging edges of the top and bottom walls 40 and 41 of the collapsible section Dwhen the said walls 40 and 41 are w rovision of stop lugs 77 and 78 eX- 125 Novel means -is provided for attaching the cabinet A to the truck comprising a pair of ege bolts rigidly secured on the wallll of t e'cab 10, adapted to extend thru apertures 81 in the wall 20 of the rigid section C so that the eyes of the bolts 80 extend into the compartment 30, where the' guard therein may insert short wedges 82 in order to secure the walls 11 and 2O in abutting secured relation to support the cabinet A in a vertical position rigid with the cab 10.

Preliminary attaching means such as eye bolts and a hasp carried b the rear wall of the cab and the rigid section of the cabinet A may be provided to temporarily secure the cabinet A in vertical position to the cab prior to extending the collapsible walls of the section D into lace, to permit the secure and rigid attac ment of the cabinet A by the eye bolts 8O and wedges 82 above mentioned. Such construction may com-` prise hasps 85 carried by the rigid section C, as illustrated in Figure 4, adapted to receive eye bolts 86 carried by the cab wall 11 secured in place by cotter pins 89, or the like, in the relation mentioned.

The cabinet A must be transported to and from the truck B, and thus be portable from place to place to serve different uses. To this it is preferred to provide caster wheels or rollers 90 secured by means of brackets 91 to the lower ends of the side walls 23 and 24 of the rigid section C; the` brackets 91 being positioned in right angled relation with respect to the length of the walls 23 and 24, and supporting the rollers 9 0 at the free ends thereof in a relation spaced above the plane of the bottom wall 21 of the rigid section C. This places therollers 90 and the brackets 91 in a spaced relation above the supporting floor of the truck when the cabinet A is vertically positioned either in extended or collapsed relation, and this obviates the necessity of detaching the caster wheels from the lower end of the cabinet. The brackets 91 are of such length that the outer ends ofthe rollers 90 extend beyond the rearmost ed e of the door 50 when the cabinet section is collapsed. Thus upon tipping of the collapsed cabinet section A the rollers 90 will engage the 'oor or ground surface as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings to permit the cabinet A being propelled. v

Brackets 92 are also attached to the side walls 23 and 24 of the rigid cabinet section C, about midway of the ends of said walls,

and the bracket 92 has portions thereof extending in right angled relation to the height of the cabinet, and therein stub shafts 93 rotatably bear. Keyed to these stub shafts 93 are relatively large supporting wheels. 94, at opposite sides of the cabinet adjacent the walls 23 and 24, the wheels 94 being of a diameter so that the segmental ortion thereof projects beyond the lane o the rear edge of the wall 50 whent e cabinet section D is collapsed, in order to permit the support of,`

the cabinet A upon the rollers 90 and the wheels 94 to facilitate its being propelled,

much in the same manner as a conventional hand truck.

` In order to prevent displacement of the collapsed walls of the section D, during-the propelling of the cabinet A, it is preferred to provide detachable stop pins or'projections 100, ydetachably insertable in the outer ends of the brackets 92, in an extending relation across the rear of the rearmost wall' -I 50, when the section D is collapsed, in the relation illustrated in Fi re 10 of the drawings, to prevent the grilling apart of the collapsed` walls of the section D, as is quite obvious. may be detachable from the walls of the rigid section D, in order to remove the large wheels 94 after the cabinet is installed 1n vertical guarding position.

v From the foregoing description of this invention itis apparent that a novel armament cabinet has been provided, formed of armor plate or bullet-proof metal, which embodies features which renders the same compact in formation and particularly desirable for use in connection with the transporta- If desired, the brackets 92,

tion of moneys, or other valuables; the same furnishing a bullet-proof and safetyoom pgrtment for a guard to which bandits, robrs, and highwaymen do not have any access or means of harmin the guard.

Various changes in t e shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the `spirit of this invention or the scope of the clalms.

I claim:

1. An armor late cabinet comprising a rigid section having a front wall, rigid side Walls, and rigid top and bottom walls formed to provide a pocket o pen at the rear thereof, sald front -wall havlng an opening prising a plurality of movably connected top and bottom, side and rear walls, the rear Wall having an article inserting and extracting opening therethrough, and a closure o erable from Within the compartment of tie cabinet for the article opening in the rear wall of the collapsible section.

2. An armor plate cabinet ycomprising a rigid section having a front wall, rigid side walls, rigid top and bottom .walls formed to provide a pocket open at the rear thereof, said front Wall having an .opening upwardly therein to provide a sight opening, closure means forthe opening operable from within the pocket of the rigid section, and a collapsible section at the open part of the pocket of the rigid section comprising a plurality of movably connected top and bottom, side and rear Walls, the rear wall hai'- ing an article inserting and extracting o ning. therethrough, a closure operable rom within the compartment of the cabinet for the article opening in the rear Wall of the collapsible section, the walls of the rigid and collapsible sections having ports and sight openings therein, and closures operable over the last mentioned openings at the inside surfaces of said walls facing the v compartment.

3. In combination with a vehicle having a supporting Wall, eye bolts carried bythe supporting Wall, and an armor plate cabinet having a compartment therein and including a Wall having openings for receiving the eye bolts of the supporting wal-1 so that the eyes of the eye bolts project into said compartment, and wedges inserted through the eyes-of the eye bolts and against the wall of the cabinet to hold the cabinet in supported relation with the Wall which supports the eyebolts.

4. In combination with a vehicle having a supporting Wall, eye bolts carried by the supporting Wall, an armor plate cabinet having a compartment therein and including a Wall having openings for receiving the eye bolts of the supporting Wall so that the eyes of the eye bolts project into .said compartment, wedofes inserted ,through the eyes of the eye bdlts and against the Wall of the cabinet to hold the cabinet in supported relation with the wall which supports the eye bolts, said supportin wall having a sight opening therein and t e adjacent wall of the cabinet having an opening therein adapted to align with the opening of the supporting Wall.

5. In combination with a vehicle having a supporting Wall, eye bolts carried bythe supporting Wall, an armor plate cabinet having acompartment therein and including a Wall having openings for receiving the eye bolts of the supporting wall so that the eyes of the eye bolts project into said compartment, wedges inserted throu h the eyes of the eye bolts and against t e wall of the cabinet to hold the cabinet in supported relation with the wall which supports the e e bolts, said supporting wall having a sig t opening therein and the adjacent wall of the -cabinet having an opening therein adapted Wall having eye bolts thereon, a bullet-proof f cabinet having a guard compartment therein, and means formed with the bullet-proof cabinet for connection to said eye bolts to holld the cabinet against said supporting wa l.

7. In armament the lcombination with a vehicle including .an upstanding supporting wall having eye bolts t ereon, a bullet-proof cabinet having a guard compartment therein, and means formed with the bullet-proof cabinet for connection to said eye bolts to hold the' cabinet against said supporting Wall, said cabinet comprising a ri id section next to the supporting wall an Van outer collapsible section including a rearvvall having an opening therethrough.

8. In armament the combination with a vehicle including an u standing supporting wall having eye bolts t ereon, a bulletroot cabinet having a guard com artment t erein, means formed with tV e bullet-proof cabinet for connection to said eye bolts to hold the cabinet against said supporting wall, said cabinet comprising a rigid section4 next to the supporting wall and an outer collapsible section including a rear wall having an opening therethrough, and closure means operable from within the compartment of the cabinet :for controlling said last mentioned opening. i

9. In a portable bullet-proof cabinet the combination of a cabinet having metal plate bullet-proof walls, roller supporting means at one end of the cabinet, and large wheel supporting means intermediate the ends of the cabinet, said cabinet being formed to permit the roller means and'large Wheel means to extend beyond a vertical surface of the. cabinet to permit its transportation when tipped.

10. In an armor plate cabinet of the class described the combination of a collapsible cabinet' construction including a construction formed with the collapsible cabinet construction providing side `walls,rbrackets on the lower endsof the side Walls extending transversely of `the collapsible cabinet construction and supporting rollers at the free ends thereof beyond the outer ,surfaces masses of the collapsible cabinet construction when collapsed, and large supporting wheels supported intermediate the ends of the cabinet upon'the rigid walls and projecting beyond the outer surfaces of the collapsible cabinet construction when collapsede 1l. In a steel plate bullet-proof cabinet the combination of a box-like rigid section including top and bottom walls, side walls, and a front wall connected to provide a pocket open at the rear, a collapsible section movably connected with the rigid section at the rear thereof including wall portions which may be collapsed upon the rigid section or extended therefrom to provide an enclosed compartment of said cabinet sec tions, brackets rigidly connected at the lower ends of the side walls of the. rigid section extending transversely therefrom above the plane of the bottom wall of the rigid section, rollers supported at the outer ends of said brackets in such relation that When the walls of the collapsible section are collapsed, said rollers will be extended beyond the rearmost surface of the rearmost Wall of the collapsible sections so that upon being tipped the rollers may engage the ground surface for transporting the cabinet with the collapsible section collapsed.

12. In a steel plate bullet-proof cabinet the combination of a box-like rigid section including top and bottom walls, side walls, and a front wall connected to rovide a pocket open at the rear. a collapsi le section movably connected with the rigid section at the rear thereof including wall portions which may be collapsed upon the rigid section or extended therefrom to provide an enclosed compartment of said cabinet sections, brackets rigidly connected at the lower ends of the side walls of the ri id section extending transversely there rom above the plane of the bottom wall of the rigid section, rollers supported at the outer ends of said brackets in such relation that when the walls of the collapsible section are collapsed, said rollers will he extended beyond the rearmost surface of the rearmost wall of the collapsible sectionsl so that upon being tipped the rollers may engage the ground surface for transporting the cabinet with the collapsible section collapsed, brackets rigidly connected with the side walls of the rigid section intermediate the ends of said side walls and projecting transversely therefrom towards.

13. In a steel plate bullet-proof cabinet the combination of a box-like rigid section including top and bottom walls, side walls, and a front wall connected to provide a pocket open at the rear, a collapsible -section movably connected with the rigid section at the rear thereof including wall portions which may be collapsed upon the rigid section or extended therefrom to provide an enclosed compartment of said cabinet sections, brackets rigidly connected at the lower ends of the sidewalls of the rigidisectionrextending transverselyv therefrom above the plane of the bottom wall of the rigid section, rollers supported at the outer ends of said brackets in such relation that when the walls of the collapsible section are collapsed, said rollers will be extended beyond the rearmost surface of the rearmost wall of the collapsible sections so that upon being tipped the rollers may engage the ground surface for transporting the cabinet with the collapsible section collapsed` brackets rigidly connected with the side Walls of the rigid section intermediate the ends of said side walls and projecting transversely therefrom towards the collapsible section, said last mentioned brackets having large supporting walls rotatable thereon which .extend partially beyond the rearmost edge of the rearmost wall of the collapsible section when the collapsible section is collapsed in 'order to permit the large wheels to also engage the ground surface when the collapsed cabinet is tipped, and means for holding the walls of the collapsible section collapsed during the transporting of the cabinet, said means consisting of detachable pins carried by the last mentioned brackets for abutment at the rearmost surfaces of the rearmost wall ofthe collapsible section.

14. In a bullet-proof cabinet construction the combination of a rigid section comprising side walls, a top wall, a bottom wall,

and a forward wall all integrally and rigidly connected, said rigid section being formed to provide a rearwardly opening pocket, and a collapsible section comprising top and bottom Walls hingedly connected to the top and bottom walls of the rigid section and swingable at their free ends inwardly into the pocket of the rigid section, means on the side walls of the rigid section to limit the amplitude of inward swinging of the top and bottom` walls of the collapsible section to provide a space between the saine and the front wall of the rigid section. wherein, articles may be received, said `collapsible section further including collapsible side walls and a rear wall` and means to retain the walls of said collapsible section collapsed. 

